Dental Curettage

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Get It?

Not all gum problems are of the same severity. In some cases, only a superficial cleaning is sufficient, while in others, surgical intervention may be necessary. Generally, take a look at the ideal candidates for dental curettage in Turkey:

• Deep gum pockets: When the depth of the pockets where bacteria nest between the gums and teeth exceeds 4 mm, this area cannot be cleaned with a toothbrush or floss. This procedure is the most effective way to remove the inflamed tissue inside these pockets. [2]
• Chronic gum bleeding: If your gums bleed easily not only during brushing but also when touched or while eating, this indicates a diseased condition.
• Bad breath: Gases produced by the inflamed tissues in the gum pockets cause a persistent bad odor in the mouth. This procedure eliminates the source of this odor.

In some cases, curettage alone may not be sufficient or may be considered risky:

• Very deep pockets: If the gum pocket is deeper than 6 mm, this procedure may not be sufficient to eliminate the entire infection. In such cases, surgical intervention may be more appropriate with the dentist’s approval.
• Advanced tooth mobility: If more than 70% of the bone supporting the tooth has been lost, curettage and root planing will not be sufficient to stabilize the loose tooth.
• Uncontrolled systemic diseases: Patients with severe diabetes or serious conditions that suppress the immune system require a medical consultation before the procedure.

How is Dental Curettage Performed?

This procedure goes beyond standard surface cleaning; it involves the biological reset of the gum pocket. At Diş 212 clinic, this procedure is performed with precision, targeting only the diseased tissues without damaging the internal structure of the gums. Here is the step-by-step dental curettage process:

• Preparation and anesthesia

Local anesthesia is applied to the treatment area to numb the nerve endings completely. This ensures that this in-depth treatment process becomes a completely comfortable and stress-free experience for you.

• Removal of infected tissue

This stage is the most critical and specialized part of the procedure. Dentists use micro-instruments with spoon-shaped, extremely sharp tips. This instrument is inserted into the gum pocket and applied to the inner surface of the visible gum tissue. Dead cells, inflamed granulation tissue, and bacteria that have accumulated there are gently scraped away.

• Rinsing and disinfection

Specialists typically combine this procedure with root planing. While the soft tissue is being cleaned, microscopic calculus and toxins adhering to the tooth root are also removed.

After the physical cleaning is complete, the microscopic cleaning phase begins. The cleaned pockets are rinsed under pressure with special antiseptic solutions. This rinsing ensures that bacteria released during the scraping process are completely removed from the mouth.

• Final stage

For the procedure to be successful, the cleaned tissue must adhere firmly to the tooth. Dentists gently press the cleaned gum tissue onto the tooth using their fingers. This pressure facilitates the formation of a thin blood clot between the tissue and the tooth root. This clot serves as the biological bridge necessary for the gum to reattach to the root.

In this procedure, which generally doesn’t require stitches, the gums naturally conform to the tooth’s shape, and healing begins immediately.